Flounder

Where They Live

Flounder are structure fish. They hold on the edges of inlet channels, along drop-offs, over shell bottom, and at the mouths of creeks and cuts. They face into the current and wait for bait to come to them.

When to Fish

Spring through fall. Flounder move into inlets and nearshore areas in April as water warms. The best fishing is often May–June and again in September when they stage before the fall migration.

Best Tide

Moving tide — both incoming and outgoing — puts bait in motion and gets flounder feeding. Slack water slows things down. Position at an edge and work the current seam.

How to Catch Them

• —Slow-drag a Carolina rig along channel edges and drop-offs. Keep it on the bottom.
• —Live finger mullet and mud minnows are top baits when available.
• —Yellow or white bucktails with a curly tail or Gulp Alive fished on a slow hop.
• —Work structure — dock pilings, bridge shadow lines, shell rakes, rock piles.
• —In the surf, look for guts and cuts between sandbars at low tide to mark your spots.
• —Leader length matters — 18–24" of 20–25lb fluorocarbon between the swivel and hook.